Bronze Serpent

NUMBERS 21 | JOHN DUFFY

As we look forward to Christmas, at the end of what has been a difficult year for many of us, today’s Bible reading from Numbers 21 presents us with a warning from the past and a message of hope and salvation for the future.

We read that the Israelites were tired and weary on account of the journey from Mount Hor, travelling round the land of Edom. They were utterly discouraged and in a sad spiritual state, which resulted in them complaining – not for the first time – against Moses and against God, despite the Lord’s gracious provision of all things needful – even bread from heaven! – and God sent fiery serpents among the people. The New Testament gives further light on this incident and warns that, these things took place as examples for us... “We must not put Christ to the test as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents”.

In the midst of catastrophe God provided the answer. Our Lord Jesus Himself explains, “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” What a message of hope, ‘Look and live!’